Most people never have cause to think about the oxygen content in the air they breathe. At sea level, air consists of around 21 percent oxygen molecules, which is more than enough to keep your body supplied with this vital gas. However, as you travel upwards in altitude, the air becomes thinner, reaching levels of 14 percent at around 10,000 feet and 10 percent at 20,000 feet. This reduction in oxygen content can cause major discomfort as well as life-threatening conditions if you do not take the time to acclimatize yourself to a higher...
Decubitus ulcers, more commonly referred to as pressure ulcers or bedsores, commonly affect individuals with limited movement, such as the bedridden or those confined to a wheelchair. Treating and preventing these ulcers requir...
The act of breathing brings fresh air into your body and eliminates the waste carbon dioxide gas produced by your metabolism. Ventilation, the flow of air into and out of your lungs, involves not only the lungs, but your respi...
While most people associate breathing with what happens in your chest, the movement of your stomach is actually very important for breathing. A muscle below your lungs, called your diaphragm, controls your breathing by expandin...
Normally, when a breath is taken in, air travels to the lungs through the bronchial tubes. In asthma, the bronchial tubes are inflamed and during this time, the bronchial tubes produce thick mucus and swell up. Due to this, the...
Generally, this condition indicates a problem with the lungs and bronchial pathways -- whether it be a disease or acute illness. Depending on the length and severity of the congestion, patients may want to seek medical attentio...
Bronchodilator medicine, whether inhaled or taken as a pill or capsule, functions by dilating the bronchioles and bronchi, the air passages that can constrict due to respiratory illnesses.
The lungs are a critical part of the cardiovascular system. The goal of the cardiovascular system is to pump oxygen-rich blood to the body's tissues and to transport carbon-dioxide-rich blood away from these tissues. The lungs ...
Supplemental oxygen typically corrects the problem and medication prevents susceptibility in patients with chronic conditions. Treatments for some causes of hypoxemia also warrant lobe or lung removal, further compromising brea...
Flu complications can result when the body's immune system becomes compromised or succumbs to another type of serious infection. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 200,000 Americans req...
it can take several years before you notice any indications of the breathing disorder. The longer the asbestos fibers are present in the lungs, the more likely that scarring of the lung tissues, development of fluid or secretio...
Practicing good hygiene and protecting yourself from respiratory illness can help prevent bronchitis.
